PHF President Marcus’s Opening Remarks

• Welcome everyone and it was great to see Hita Mistry, holidaying 7 hours north of Perth, online.
• Last week we wished our first meeting members great luck and they didn’t attend, but they are here tonight: Tarja, Rowan and Linda.
• It is fantastic to have Danielle Gaitley here again tonight. She first came on 30 May, and thought we were a cult.
• Danielle talks as if she is already signed up.
• Danielle went to St. Margaret’s with Emma Clark and she’s a great friend of Marcus’s.
• Belgrave President Gus and his fiancée Rebecca are here tonight. Gus and Marcus have known each other for a long time, from when Marcus was the District Rotaract Representative.
• Gus will give us a Rotary love tip or two.
• Tomorrow John and Lorna Shaw will be going to visit the Belgrave Club.
• Marcus chaired his last Board meeting last Wednesday night and it has been a bit of fun
• The Deb Ball for Emerald Secondary College was held last Saturday night. Congratulations to Lyn and her team Shalini and Toni-Anne.
• It was an exceptional night; Hendo’ was outstanding as MC and he and Gayle presented to the guests.
• Ian Wakefield helped out lots at the practice sessions.
• He along with Jenny celebrated their grandson Hunter and Leigh Peterson’s daughter Maddy.
• Nayara, Anna Malseed’s daughter was there with Finn Falconer, Naomi’s son. The McAllisters also attended.
• Sangeeta looked really good in gold when wearing the Presidential chain after Marcus’s departure.

• Welcome to Chairperson President-Elect Sangeeta Bajaj

Allan Douglas “Behind the Badge "

• Sangeeta has known Allan for 10 years; she speaks to him every day on her way to work
• is 183 cm. tall and is on painkillers following his arthroscopy last week.
• hasn’t been “with it” since 1984
• was born on 7 January 1966 although he was due on 24 December; was born in the year of St. Kilda’s only Premiership
• lived in Harkaway from the ages of 6 to 21
• in High School was an average student and qualified to be a teacher
• focus until he turned 15 was sport
• played cricket for Richmond in the Premier League when he was 15
• played in the Schoolboys Under 17 Tennis Championships at Kooyong.
• had no coach, was not seeded and lost the final.
• That was the last game of tennis Allan played; he should’ve played tennis as there’s lots of money in it
• in junior sport at Hallam was in the team of the half-century
• first paying job was in the VFA
• was paid $50 a game and played for the Sydney Apples the Montagues
• went to the Police Force Academy
• didn’t know whether to be a teacher or a policeman but became a financial planner at AMP at the age of 19
• then went to AMP General
• his life changed - sport and discipline went out the door
• was an exciting time - met Deb when aged 20
• was pretty determined and his female friends encouraged him
• moved out of home at the age of 20 years and 3 months to move in with Deb
• lived in Warrnambool for three years
• managed an area larger than Tasmania
• Warrnambool is a tremendous place; the race track is a long way around and the grass is 6” thick
• in 1995 chose to leave and opened his own business
• after two years the business had tripled in size
• was involved in the Insurance Association of Australia
• was headhunted, on the Board for 7 years then became President
• represented half the companies in Australia to beat the big insurance companies
• headed up Insurance Australia for 6 years in every state and territory for free while running his own business
• was the best thing he could’ve done and he’s very lucky to have had that experience.
• Triple T came along and he’s a director
• will never employ people again
• will remain a director and will be the main shareholder soon
• there are 14 employees now, it’s really full on. Allan has to fly a bit.
• has run national conferences just like Rotary’s
• they decide where the money goes in terms of charities
• they support the McGrath Foundation for a breast care nurse
• the nurse flies to farms in South Australia and provides care for women in remote areas
• $55,000 was raised in one night
• they also supported Ronald McDonald House with a bike ride to get donations as you cycle
• “A Current Affair” got involved and they raised $50,000 for cancer research.
• ran the last 3 or 4 Cancer Charity Walks to help raise money for cancer research until Covid struck.
• it involves walking for 18 hours; before it, he was in a golf charity day for three children whose parents died in a car accident.
• busy 2 to 3 nights a week every week.
• his wife Deb got cancer and died which meant all their plans evaporated.
• the day she was diagnosed, he was coaching Cora Lynn against Tooradin in netball.
• Deb had cancer on an ovary and their daughter was the captain of the Cora Lynn team but wasn’t told then.
• Allan says if you need to take a break, take a break.
• chose to slow down but now in Rotary.
• has been asked to coach three teams - the season goes for 23 weeks from start to finish
• is a bit of a lunatic and doesn’t listen to advice so “ Do as I say, not do what I do.”
• very blessed that he’s known Sangeeta and Marcus who have got him through a lot.
• has three children Christopher, Ashley and Bianca
• Christopher was born in 1990 and Ashley the following year. Having two children one year apart is no good.
• knows James Gillard the Belgrave Rotary Club Joint President.
• still heavily involved in insurance but now just consults.

• Greg Adams is in Belfast Ireland but his District Newsletter still came out today
• Kris Ash is in the UK, Susi is in Germany
• the McAllisters, Don Borg and Hita are on Zoom.
• Colin Brown led the singing of “Happy Birthday” to Ian Ash.
• It’s Kerith’s birthday and one year anniversary since joining the club tomorrow.
• John Shaw joined on 10 June 26 years ago.
• Asked “Why do you keep staying?” said, “Basically because I had no option.”

Committee Reports

• was a fantastic evening due to having a great team all throughout.
• held a very successful raffle thanks to having great salespeople.
• $1,151 was raised from the raffle thanks to the sponsors which included Barry Plant and the photographers.

• it’s all locked in for a 6:30 start on Saturday at the Independent in Gembrook.
• there will be a Photo Booth, and wear dancing shoes as a DJ is coming.

• the roster has been given out and there are notes for you to read on the back.
• thank you to all who have volunteered for the 18 night Sausage Sizzle marathon.

• if you have an * against your name, it means you have to collect the bread on the day you are on duty.
• arrive at 5:30 pm.
• can’t park at the station
• could park at the pub which has been burnt down but it is boggy there.
• best to park on the streets around Gembrook.
• sausages are $4 each so please revise your 4 x tables.
• there are 2 EFTPOS machines and a cash float.
• only need six people each night
• there is a maximum of 8 on some nights. If you can’t make it, give him a ring - it’s no big deal.
• train arrives at 6:45 pm. The passengers get off at Heritage Station and are walked to the town station.
• we are undercover but it will be cold so wear your hoodies
• we are having 250 passengers a night x 18
• at 7:45 pm. the passengers go, and we pack up and put everything back into 3 lovely marked boxes.
• the 2 barbecues will be set out
• Ian Wakefield, Roy and John are having a practice run next Tuesday
• the tickets for next Thursday night have all gone
• Nicoletta will give them to John to pass on to you

• there’s going to be tin shaking for “Wheelchairs For Kids” at the Train of Lights.
• there will be displays and a QR code.
• our aim is to extract a few dollars from the passengers.

• there will be a committee meeting next Monday night at 7 o’clock in the Clematis Room at the Pub for the Kids Fun Run With Puffing Billy Committee.

• see the Ritchies IGA Emerald brochures on the tables - please join to help out the Fundraising Committee.
• you need to nominate our Rotary Club.
• money from IGA goes to Wheelchairs for Kids.
• $2,000 from club members must be spent within the month to qualify.

• have spent the last of their money on musical instruments.
• managed to buy 4 guitars for Emerald Secondary College and maybe a double bass. ESC is in desperate need of musical instruments.
• didn’t get the grant from Casey-Cardinia.
• the school will take secondhand instruments and Rebecca may be able to help with this.

• reminder to attend the District Changeover on 1 July as this will help Ken feel really loved.
• a number of members indicated they are already going.

• Regarding plastic pollution in the rivers and oceans, particularly in Asian countries, that Dr. Bruce Richardson spoke about last week - these countries have no capacity to manage the waste currently.
• they are poor countries and do not have the infrastructure.
• they have always thrown their waste material into the ocean and it didn’t matter that much but now that there is plastic, it does matter; we should not be judgemental.
• to offset our club meetings’ CO2 emissions for the year, the Board passed a motion last Wednesday that we buy into the Rotary Adopt-A-Tree programme at a cost of $5 per member.
• you will receive an adoption certificate in your name and we are including Chris Adams and Louise Borg in the project.
• “What do plastic plant pots, blister pill packs, old runners and sunglasses have in common?” - they can all be recycled, so do not put them into your rubbish bin, instead bring them to our Tuesday night meetings and put them into the cardboard box for that purpose.
• they will then be taken to where they can be recycled.
• or take your old runners to “The Athlete’s Foot” and deposit in the box there.
• do this in addition to saving plastic milk and soft drink bottle tops and bread tags please, and the environment will thank you.

• there’s going to be a greater emphasis on the DEI policy of Rotary International - we must encourage diversity, equity and inclusion in our clubs’ membership.
• the new incoming Rotary International President is Scotsman Gordon McInally
• his focus and emphasis will be improving mental health during his year
• a couple of programmes were mentioned for children and adolescents to increase their emotional intelligence and reduce their anxiety.
• the children’s programme is called “THINK to be me” - take a look on the Internet if you know children suffering with anxiety.

Closing Remarks: President Marcus

• President-Elect Sangeeta and thank you for being the Chair tonight.
• big Allan for his “Behind the Badge”.

• John Ritchie for his Toast to the Elderly
• Colin Brown for leading the singing of “Happy Birthday” to our members
• Hita for the programme this year which has been outstanding
• President Gus and Rebecca for attending. Belgrave and Monbulk Clubs are having a joint Changeover at Rose Cottage on Wednesday 21 June. The connectivity we’ve been able to make with their Clubs has been great.
• Danielle for attending

Next Week